can't rightly say

(I) can't rightly say

I don't know with certainty. A: "How many people are coming to dinner tonight?" B: "I can't rightly say—my family tends to just show up without responding to invitations."
See also: rightly, say
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(I) can't rightly say.

Rur. I do not know with any certainty. Fred: When do you think we'll get there? Bill: Can't rightly say. Bob: Okay, how does this look to you? Bill: I can't rightly say. I've never seen anything like it before.
See also: rightly, say
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • (I) can't rightly say
  • rightly
  • (I) can't say for sure
  • can't say for sure
  • for certain
  • for sure
  • (I) can't say as I do(, can't say as I don't)
  • can't say as I do
  • (I) can't say as I do
  • (I) can't say's I do
References in classic literature
"Well, sir, what with the hurry and the crowd of people pushing about, I can't rightly say what the lady looked like.
The Woman in White
"Well, I can't rightly say. Windsor must be pretty nigh London, for it's where the king lives," was the answer.
Adam Bede
"Not knowin' what your notions o' fun may be, I can't rightly say, young feller.
Captains Courageous
I can't rightly say that raw milk tastes better than the pasteurized product because I don't remember.
The raw milk range wars
I can't rightly say how many readers heeded my call and logged onto ISW or how much traffic ISW generated in its first month of service.
ISWonline at 10: a long, strange trip
Can't rightly say. I reckon hit's jes goan depend on how all dis schoolin' turn out en whether dis city ever goan recognize dat we is men too en dat we got our rights jes like de white man has his'n.")
They Didn't Put That on the Huntley-Brinkley!: A Vagabond Reporter Encounters the New South